La Pratique de l'Aiguille, page 67 (recto) 1605

Matthias Mignerak produced this design for needlework in France at an unknown date. It is a page from a book of patterns. The grid of small squares would have helped the embroiderer to count stitches and maintain accurate proportions. The composition is a formal arrangement of flowers and leaves. Books like this one helped spread new styles and techniques. This raises questions about the social status of women and the needlework they produced. Was embroidery considered art or craft? How did gender and class affect the institutions of art? To understand this image better, we can research the history of embroidery, the publishing industry in France, and the role of women in the arts. The meaning of this design lies not only in its aesthetic qualities but also in its social and institutional context.